Pentax K-50

The K-50 is a mid-size DSLR that Pentax released in 2013. It measures 130 x 97 x 71mm and weighs about 650g, giving it the proportions of a traditional SLR.

Its APS-C sensor works behind the Pentax KAF mount, which opens up the brand's K-mount lenses. In-body stabilisation and a weather-sealed body make it a practical pick for outdoor stills photography in changeable conditions.

The trade-off is 2013-era convenience: no built-in wireless connection and no second card slot. Buyers coming from connected cameras will notice those gaps day to day.

The K-50 pairs a 16.28 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with the Prime M processor. An Optics score of 62 rates as good, placing it around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

In-body stabilisation is the key stills feature. Moving the sensor rather than the lens means every KAF lens you attach gains shake reduction, helping you hold steady at slower shutter speeds. It counteracts camera shake only, so moving subjects still demand faster settings.

For movement, the limits show. The maximum burst rate is six frames per second, and that figure is a maximum, not a promise over a long sequence. Eleven autofocus points handle focus selection.

A pentaprism optical viewfinder shows the scene directly through the lens. The ISO scale runs from 100 up to 51200, giving plenty of setting room when the light drops.

Recording tops out at Full HD resolution, the maximum frame rate is 30fps, and files are written in MPEG-4.

There is no 4K mode. That positions the camera for casual and family clips rather than detailed production work, and the modest Video score of 57 reflects the Full HD ceiling and the 30fps maximum.

The built-in timelapse function is the creative high point. You can shoot interval sequences entirely in camera, with no separate intervalometer to buy or carry.

The fixed screen matters here. Because it does not tilt, framing a high or low handheld video shot means moving yourself along with the camera or guessing at the edges of the frame.

The 3-inch LCD carries 921,000 dots for reviewing images, and live view is available for composing on the screen instead of the viewfinder.

There is no touch response, so settings change entirely through the physical controls. That suits photographers who like buttons and dials, though anyone arriving from a phone will need time to adjust.

Lighting options are well covered. A built-in flash handles quick indoor and fill shots, and the camera also supports external flash units when you want more power or control.

The body is weather sealed for outdoor use. There is no GPS and no built-in wireless connectivity, and the modest Features score of 54 reflects lost points on the missing touch screen and Bluetooth.

Storage runs on a single slot that takes SD, SDHC and SDXC cards. With no second slot there is no in-camera backup, so pack spare cards for big days.

The D-LI109 battery is rated at 410 shots per charge. That figure is a rating rather than a promise; real endurance depends on how often you lean on live view and the screen.

The camera offers no USB charging, so a second battery, ready before you leave, is the practical backup for longer shooting days.

Together these points explain the limited Storage & Battery score of 24, the lowest of the camera's section scores.